David Archard announced as new Chair of Nuffield Council on Bioethics

04 April 2017

The Nuffield Foundation welcomes the appointment of David Archard as the new Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. David is Professor of Philosophy at the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, at Queen’s University Belfast. He was Deputy Chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority until the end of 2016.

“I am delighted to be offered this fantastic opportunity,” said Professor Archard. “I have actively followed the Council’s work and have seen its reputation and influence grow nationally and internationally over the years. The vital role it plays in providing independent advice to policy makers and in stimulating debate in the public interest will, I believe, become even more important in the future. I am privileged to be offered the role, and look forward to working with colleagues in taking forward the Council’s work over the next five years.”

David was appointed to the five-year position by the Council’s funders, the Nuffield Foundation, Medical Research Council and Wellcome.

Hugh Whittall, Director of the Council said: “We are delighted with this appointment. David is a highly respected academic thinker, with an impressive record of public service. This, and the fact he has been engaged with the work of the Council for a number of years, will be of enormous benefit to us. David is joining us at a really exciting phase as we develop our new strategic plan and start to shape our next work programme. I very much look forward to working with him to ensure our continued success.”

Professor Archard takes over from Jonathan Montgomery, Professor of Health Care Law at University College London, Chair of the Health Research Authority and newly appointed member of European Commission Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies, who chaired the Council from 2012. Under Jonathan’s chairmanship, the Council’s publications included reports on the ethics of novel neurotechnologies, children in clinical research, and emerging biotechnologies; a review on inherited mitochondrial disorders; and a joint project with learned societies on the culture of scientific research.